EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF GIBBERELLIC ACID ON MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND YIELD OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from March to August 2018 to study the effect of foliar application of gibberellic acid on morpho-physiological characters and yield of okra. The experiment considered of two factors. Factor A – two okra variety; V 1 = BARI dheros-1 and V 2 = Lal teer hybrid dheros and Factor B: Gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) - 4 levels; G 0 = Control (0 ppm GA 3 ), G 1 = 50 ppm GA 3 , G 2 = 100 ppm GA 3 = 150 ppm GA 3 and G 4 = 200 ppm GA 3 . The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on different growth, yield components and yield of okra were recorded. Different growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced by variety and GA 3 and also with their combinations. Results showed that the variety V 2 (Lal teer hybrid dheros) gave highest yield and yield contributing parameters compared to V 1 (BARI dheros-1). Again, regarding, GA 3 effect, the treatment G 2 (100 ppm GA 3 ) it gave the best performance on yield and yield contributing parameters. Considering treatment combination of variety and GA 3 , the highest SPAD value (68.35 at 50 DAS), length of fruit (11.70 and 14.90 cm at 60 and 90 DAS, respectively), diameter of fruit (1.86 and 1.92 cm at 60 and 90 DAS, respectively), number of fruits plant (24.60), fresh weight of fruits plant -1 (348.20 g), fruit yield plot -1 -1 (6.26 kg) and fruit yield ha

(17.88 t) was obtained from the treatment combination of V 2 G 2 whereas the lowest SPAD value (40.65 at 50 DAS ), length of fruit (6.67 and 8.87 cm at 60 and 90 DAS, respectively), diameter of fruit (1.34 and 1.42 cm at 60 DAS and 90 DAS, respectively) number of fruits plant -1 (24.60), fresh weight of fruits plant (198.70 g), fruit yield plot -1 (3.47 kg) and fruit yield ha -1 (9.92 t) were observed from the treatment combination of V 1 G O. These results suggested that gibbrellic acid increased the yield of okra. -1 ,

G 3 -1